Chapter 52: Orphan Resentment (Part 12)

Xiao Muyu nodded. Shen Qingqiu tilted her head slightly, internally remarking how relieved she was that they were finally on the right track. She couldn’t help but think being around such astute people often made everyone else’s intelligence feel like it was lagging.

“I understand. Jia Wenlong had a clear disadvantage as the first player. So, even if he didn’t know who he corresponded to or which doll represented him, the game would still provide him with clear clues. But for the rest of us, especially Shen Qingqiu and Hou Liang who’ve had their chance to search for clues, the game likely won’t give such obvious hints anymore. In that case, we need a connection outside the game—namely, the eight children and their dolls—to help us make the right choices.” Zhang Yangfeng presented his summary.

Huang Junfeng caught on as well. He frowned and continued, “So, the eight players correspond to the eight orphans, and the eight orphans correspond to the eight dolls. To keep things fair, Shen Qingqiu and Hou Liang should already have identified their corresponding child. That means their dolls are difficult to find, or they won’t have much time to locate them. Am I getting it?”

“That’s very likely.” Xiao Muyu glanced at Shen Qingqiu. So she’ll be in danger tonight. But she’s so calm. This person doesn’t seem to care.

“Let’s not waste any time, then. We should interact more with those kids and get to know them better. But… could they be ghosts like Xiao Jiao?” Huang Junfeng shuddered at the thought. He had sensed something off about Xiao Jiao before, but now, knowing a non-human like her was among them gave him anxiety.

“There’s one more thing,” Zhang Yangfeng added another reminder. “We should recall each doll’s appearance and compile the information. I don’t think we can find every doll outside the game. Some might be missing, or we might not have enough time to find them. In that case, we’ll have to rely on certain characteristics of those ghost dolls from last night to match them with the children.”

Xiao Muyu and the others nodded in agreement. One after the other, they began to share the details they had observed, supplementing or correcting each other as needed.

Xiao Muyu summarized everyone’s statement in her mind:

“There are eight dolls in total. Two have blonde hair, specifically Little Six and Little Eight. Three have brown hair: Little Two, Little Five, and Little Seven. The remaining three have black hair: Little One, Little Three, and Little Four. They all wear princess dresses with similar designs. I didn’t pay much attention to the shoes, but some should have leather shoes. These are just the general characteristics. Now I’ll go over the distinctive points.

“Little Two’s hair is styled in a neat ponytail with small plaits. It wears a handmade bracelet, but I couldn’t specify the material. Little Eight—the one that pushed Jia Wenlong forward—is a little more distinct. It has a long braid decorated with a bow. The doll standing behind Jia Wenlong last night was Little Six, the other blonde-haired one. As for the rest, we didn’t get a clear look at them due to distance, angle, and the tense atmosphere.”

“In other words, Little Eight is the most recognizable. We all had a clear look when it stepped forward to find a substitute for Little Six. Currently, there’s nothing notable about it beyond that. Next is Little Two, the only one with a bracelet.” Zhang Yangfeng extracted two key pieces of information from Xiao Muyu’s summary. He looked at her, deeply impressed.

When Little Eight introduced its companions, the dolls were positioned haphazardly, not in any specific order. So they could only recall distinctive traits of the dolls they’d seen. Most of them had trouble remembering who was who. Yet Xiao Muyu could identify each doll with remarkable precision.

After they had discussed for over half an hour, Qu Muxi finally appeared in the lobby.

She glanced around at everyone, her eyes twinkling with a smile. “Morning, everyone. You’re all up already? I didn’t expect you to wake up this early. How did you rest last night? Did you sleep well?”

With a slight frown, Xiao Muyu sent a look at Shen Qingqiu. Both felt something was off with her words.

‘You’re all up?’ Did she miscount, or did she genuinely believe there were seven of them all along?

“Since everyone is here, let’s go have breakfast. The cafeteria made congee this morning. And eggs; the two injured guests need more nutrition.”

These words confirmed their suspicion. To Qu Muxi, it was like the missing person had never existed.

Everyone looked at Qu Muxi with indescribable discomfort. Although they didn’t want to interact much with her, they had to act as if nothing was wrong. They could only hope that this elegant and gentle Director Qu was human and she was only behaving according to the game’s settings.

“More eating… I’ll be sick of food for the rest of my life.” Huang Junfeng couldn’t hold back a listless grumble, his face dark with despair.

Liu Pei glanced at him without saying anything.

The group followed Qu Muxi to the cafeteria. Up front, Xiao Muyu moved closer to Qu Muxi and asked, “Director Qu, Charity Orphanage is large. I noticed there are more than a few rooms. Why are there only eight children here?”

Qu Muxi’s expression froze for a moment. Confusion flashed briefly in her usually smiling eyes, which didn’t escape Xiao Muyu.

“Oh, it’s like this. Charity Orphanage is very remote. At the end of last year, the local government decided to merge it with the city’s welfare center, so a group of children has already been transferred there. Xiao Jiao and the others were delayed due to paperwork issues, but they’ll be moving there at the end of this month as well.”

Qu Muxi quickly explained with a calm expression.

Xiao Muyu nodded. “So what will happen to you and Old Sang after the merge, Director Qu?”

Qu Muxi smiled. “I was never officially the director. I temporarily took over after the former director, Director Zhang, left. Once Xiao Jiao and the other kids leave, it’ll be time for me to go, too.”

Her tone was soft but ended with a sigh when she mentioned the children leaving. Despite the smile on her face, there was despondence and sadness in her voice and eyes. It seemed she truly couldn’t bear to part with her wards.

Xiao Muyu didn’t ask further questions. The few hundred-meter walk from the lobby to the cafeteria did not leave much time to ask more before they arrived.

When they entered, the children were already lining up for breakfast. Xiao Muyu and the group immediately observed them.

Xiao Jiao was at the front. Xiao Mei, the girl who had reminded her to eat with care yesterday, was behind her.

Xiao Muyu scanned the room. Xiao Han, the little boy with the leg problem, stood toward the end of the line. Her gaze fell on his feet. He wore cloth shoes, and the left sole was noticeably more worn. Coincidentally, Hou Liang had injured his right leg.

Hou Liang also seemed to have noticed Xiao Han. He fixed his eyes intently on the boy without attempting to hide it.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingqiu observed the auntie distributing breakfast. It was the same woman from yesterday, but she had changed her clothes. With an expressionless face, she mechanically ladled congee and handed eggs and steamed buns to each child holding out their bowl to her.

Xiao Jiao was already returning with her bowl. She set her breakfast down and then went to help Xiao Mei carry hers.

Xiao Muyu nudged Shen Qingqiu, signaling her to take note of the scene.

Shen Qingqiu feigned incomprehension and leaned in, whispering, “What’s up?”

Xiao Muyu, knowing all too well Shen Qingqiu’s mischievous streak, replied coldly, “Forget it. There’s no saving those who court death.”

Like a masochist, Shen Qingqiu only beamed in response to the rebuke. Tilting her head, she said, “Don’t worry. I have an eye on things.”

Xiao Mei stood out the most among the eight orphans. She had a delicate, pretty face with rosy lips and white teeth. Her outfit comprised a faded dress and red leather shoes. She exuded a mature aura that set her apart from the other children, making her especially eye-catching.

“When we first entered the orphanage, I asked Director Qu if anyone else had arrived. Director Qu said there were three, one of whom was really pretty. Xiao Mei kept calling her beautiful and liked her a lot.” Xiao Muyu muttered under her breath, unruffled by Shen Qingqiu’s response.

Shen Qingqiu understood immediately. She glanced at Xiao Mei, who held her bowl in her left hand with her right hand hanging by her side. The girl happened to be looking at her, too.

Children usually gravitated towards attractive older sisters or brothers, and it would normally be pleasant to be admired by a child for one’s beauty. But this admiration could be deadly in a horror game involving dolls finding replacements.

“Oh, no doubt I’m her replacement—or her doll’s. It’s just that we don’t have any clues yet about which doll is hers.” Shen Qingqiu didn’t look nervous, as if this was nothing out of the norm.

Qu Muxi called them over to eat. Zhang Yangfeng, however, spoke up first. “Director Qu, we’re freeloading. Please don’t treat us like guests. We can manage ourselves. Since we don’t have much else to do, we’d love to spend time with the children. Is it okay with you if I join them for breakfast and get to know them better?”

Qu Muxi smiled, her eyes crinkling warmly. “That would be wonderful. Right now, it’s just Old Sang and me here at the orphanage, so they have no one to keep them company. If you’re willing to play with them, that would be the best.”

Zhang Yangfeng made a good move. For now, the best strategy to uncover clues was to get close to the children.

Breakfast was eight-treasure congee¹. Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu got their food from the cafeteria lady. Xiao Muyu watched those familiar, trembling hands fill only half her bowl with congee. She couldn’t help but glance at the auntie.

The woman looked at her sharply. Shen Qingqiu quickly stepped forward, greeting her with a respectful expression and honeyed words. “Thank you, auntie. We’re so grateful to you for serving us congee. You must be working so hard. The food last night was delicious. You’re an amazing cook. Oh, and we’ll probably be bothering you for a few more days. By the way, what should we call you? We don’t even know your name yet.”

The zombie-like cafeteria lady stared blankly at Shen Qingqiu for a long moment. Across so many rounds, this girl was the first to smile at her, greet her up close, and even compliment her cooking. Instead of replying immediately, she dipped her ladle into the pot and added another scoop to Shen Qingqiu’s bowl. After a while, she finally pulled her stiff cheeks to say, “You can just call me Auntie Jiang.”

*Ding*

A system notification simultaneously echoed in everyone’s minds: “Player Shen Qingqiu has unlocked NPC Auntie Jiang’s heartwarming skill: Auntie’s Steady Hands. Finishing Auntie Jiang’s eight-treasure congee, made with love, will bring you good luck!”

Xiao Muyu glanced at her own half-full bowl, then at Shen Qingqiu’s nearly overflowing one. Her lips twitch at the corner involuntarily. What a heartwarming skill, indeed.

Zhang Yangfeng and Yang Rui, who were waiting ahead with half-full bowls, and the remaining Huang Junfeng and Liu Pei looked dumbfounded. Auntie’s steady hands, indeed.

They also noticed the name “Auntie Jiang” now appeared next to “Cafeteria lady” in their progress log. Shen Qingqiu found she’d earned an extra 0.5 points. She wanted to complain about it. And, as if to add insult to injury, there was a note below that said: [Special points awarded for encouragement!]

“Wow, a whole 0.5 points, what a grand reward,” Shen Qingqiu muttered under her breath as she sat down. Xiao Muyu couldn’t see her progress window, but from Shen Qingqiu’s comment, she could guess what had happened. She allowed herself a faint smile before quickly resuming her cold demeanor, saying nonchalantly, “Some people are beautiful and talk sweet, but have a fox’s heart. There are still five kids left. Charm them all, and maybe you’ll get another 2.5 points to round it up to 3.”

Shen Qingqiu was slightly surprised. Xiao Muyu, making a joke? But after her initial surprise, she gave a coy, captivating smile. “Your compliment about my sweet-talking and good looks is far rarer than a mere 3 points.”

Xiao Muyu glanced at her askance. Did she not catch the “fox’s heart” part of that?

Breakfast was a simple fare with none of the odd smells from before. More importantly, no one spoke more than necessary, which meant this meal should be safe.

The seven players put all their energy into getting acquainted with the eight children. Eventually, they completed the character introductions for everyone at Charity Orphanage but got no points. Shen Qingqiu’s 0.5 points really were just for encouragement.

Except for Xiao Jiao, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Han, whose names they already knew, the other five were around seven or eight years old. Xiao Qiu, skinny with tanned skin, and the chubby Xiao Yan made up the other two boys. Among the three other girls, there was Little Xiao Mei, a well-dressed, pretty girl with a high ponytail; Xiao Yue, a quiet, shy child who only nodded or shook her head when asked questions, never speaking; Xiao Qin, a little girl with a noticeable cleft lip, who kept her head down and only looked up when no one was watching her. Aside from Big Xiao Mei, who wore a dress, the other girls wore T-shirts and pants.

“What do you kids usually play here in the orphanage?” Huang Junfeng asked, pitching his voice in an unusually gentle tone.

Xiao Muyu noticed the light shining in Xiao Jiao, Xiao Han, and Xiao Yan’s eyes dimmed right as Huang Junfeng finished his question.

Xiao Muyu gave Huang Junfeng a look and smoothly took over the conversation. “Xiao Jiao, Xiao Han, are you all good kids for Director Qu?”

Everyone knew that Xiao Jiao wasn’t human. So, intentionally or subconsciously, Huang Junfeng and the others had been keeping their distance from her. Yet Xiao Muyu sat right beside her, speaking to the children warmly.

Shen Qingqiu was cold and aloof, while Xiao Muyu was cold and composed. But in just a short time, the others started to realize the different personas these two women could adopt when it came to the game.

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Author had something to say:

I think I might have a bit of a knack for writing comedy, haha.
Xiao Shen: Auntie’s Steady Hands—you deserve it!
Sassy Shen: If it’s something I don’t want to hear, I won’t listen.

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Footnotes:

1. 1. Rice congee made with red beans, lotus seeds, longan, red dates, nuts etc. ↩︎

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TL: Since there are two Xiao Meis now, I use “Big Xiao Mei” and “Little Xiao Mei” to differentiate them.

Big Xiao Mei is the eldest among the orphans, around 13. She scolded Xiao Jiao at dinner on the first night. She’s also the one who admires Shen Qingqiu. Her Mei (玫) means Rose.

Little Xiao Mei is the one just introduced, age around 7 or 8; her Mei (梅) means Plum, or Ume in Japanese.